Sleep

Today I got up at 5:15 am, ran 3 miles and did my Jillian Workout (this time the 27 minute Trouble Zones program). Once I got done I found out we are on a level 2 snow emergency which means I get to work from home... I could have slept in!

Granted, I feel better and started work earlier so I can hopefully rest this afternoon a little more than usual, but SLEEP is so crucial for me. I need at least 7 hours to function, 9 would be ideal. They say 8 it is average, but I think I need more! I am also going to the Black Eyed Peas concert tonight which means a late night.

Ironically,this article was posted today on Jillian's blog. It talks about the benefits of getting the right amount of sleep and how too much sleep can really impact your overall metabolism.

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Are You Getting Too Much Sleep?

"Are you one of those people who likes to brag that you get by on very little sleep? Or do you love to sleep the day away? I've told you before that too little sleep can mess up your weigh-loss efforts, but did you also know that when you sleep too much, your metabolism can also be negatively affected too?

If you sleep 10 hours a night, you might face some of the same hormonal risks as those who sleep too little. A recent Canadian study found that people who sleep fewer than seven hours or more than nine hours weigh an average of four more pounds (and had wider waists) than people who sleep eight hours every night. Researchers believe that having too much or too little sleep interferes with your ability to control your appetite, because it simultaneously increases hunger hormone ghrelin while it decreases satisfaction hormone leptin.

Want to be sure you are getting all the benefits of a good night sleep? Get your rest! Shoot for a consistent eight hours of sleep and stick with the same bed time and wake-up time each day — even on the weekends!"

How much sleep do you need? Do you always get up at the same time?